11.29 pm

Mr. Andrew MacKay (Bracknell):
We have always maintained that any settlement in Northern Ireland is entirely dependent on the triple lock. The first part of the triple lock was achieved on Good Friday, when a majority of the parties in both communities signed the Belfast agreement. Now it is essential that we have the second part of the triple lock, which means the people of Northern Ireland expressing their view by way of a referendum. If the outcome is positive, the third part of the triple lock--a vote in both Houses of this Parliament--will be necessary. Therefore, we have absolutely no hesitation in supporting the orders.

11.30 pm

Mr. Peter Robinson (Belfast, East):
The House should pause for a moment before taking a decision that I think it will regret.

Mr. Frank Cook (Stockton, North):
Why?

Mr. Robinson:
I shall tell the hon. Gentleman why. He can be sure that before I sit down, he will know why.

representatives of the Provisional IRA's army council--Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Under the agreement, once they are in that Government, they will hold full ministerial portfolios which will be exercised in a more wide-ranging way than is the case in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Frank Cook:
Many of us can understand why the hon. Gentleman is opposed to the orders, but I personally cannot understand why he is against the people of Northern Ireland expressing an opinion.

Mr. Robinson:
The hon. Gentleman should have waited before intervening. I have not said that I am against the people of Northern Ireland expressing an opinion. Indeed, if he knew a bit more about the subject, he would be aware that it was my party which asked for a referendum. We want the people of Northern Ireland to have their say, but I am entitled to explain to the House what the House is asking the people of Northern Ireland to vote on. The only choice that the House is giving the people of Northern Ireland is to vote for or against the agreement--there are to be no alternatives on the ballot paper.

its goal of a united Ireland. Will Unionists recommend that to the people of Northern Ireland? If that were not bad enough--[Interruption.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. Conversations are breaking out generally throughout the Chamber. I would be grateful if hon. Members would listen to the hon. Gentleman who is addressing the House.

Mr. Robinson:
That is the very last thing that hon. Members want to do. To listen might lead to their being convinced and that might cause them considerable problems with their Whips, so they close their ears rather than hear the truth.

Mr. Robinson:
The hon. Gentleman asks me what my alternative is--he has clearly not read Democratic Unionist party documents, which have offered alternative after alternative. If he wants to offer me an alternative, I will take what Scotland has--I should be happy for Northern Ireland to have the same structures that the House was content to give to Scotland. Scotland was not asked to give away its sovereignty and join some foreign country, so why should that be required of us?